RK (LW) TEAM REC
1 (3) Hornets 8-0
If anyone predicted before the season started that the New Orleans would be the only undefeated team after 3 weeks into the season with an 8-0 record, I would have said they were crazy. I predicted the Hornets would be struggling and that Chris Paul trade rumors would have been intensifying by now, but I was wrong along with just about everyone because the Hornets have the number one ranking heading into week four. Chris Paul is the leading MVP candidate and the Hornets Emeka Okafor has returned from the grave. I don’t know if they can keep this up, but the Hornets could even build on this by packaging Peja’s $14 million expiring contract for Carmelo Anthony. Now that would be a twist!
2 (2) Celtics 8-2
The Boston Celtics are clearly the best team in the East and they showed that when they took their talents to South Beach with a convincing spanking of the Miami Heat. Their 102-97 win was not indicative of their true dominance, because they dominated the entire game leaving the Heat in complete dismay.
3 (7) Spurs 8-1
Well no surprise here. I said before the season started that the Spurs would be the team that would challenge the Lakers, so it doesn’t surprise me to see them with an 8-1 record. I actually expect them to finish with one of the top two seeds in the West and make one last run with Tim Duncan for the championship.
4 (1) Lakers 8-2
I know the Lak show lost two straight, but please let’s not panic. Denver played well and Phoenix needed a record 22 3pointers to win. The Lakers will bounce back from this and I can assure you they will be there in the end when it counts.
5 (4) Heat 6-4
What’s going on with the Miami Heat is the question everyone seems to be asking these days? First of all, they need to do something about their point guard situation because Lebron needs to be a finisher and not a point guard. Secondly, they need to speed up the offense. Third, they need to get Chris Bosh more involved on offense so that he can start feeling good because he is being killed defensively. Finally, Pat Riley needs to be the coach of this team, because he assembled this squad and know exactly how to deal with egos.
6 (12) Jazz 7-3
It’s far to say that the Jazz have made up for the lack of excitement that the Miami Heat should have brought so far this season. In their last five wins, they’ve come back from double digit deficits, which is a very impressive feat considering their last four wins were all on the road. Four of their last five wins however, have been by a combined 9 points. That tells me that the Jazz have been very fortunate and they cannot expect this trend to continue.
7 (10) Mavericks 6-2
I keep asking myself, are the Mavericks for real? And the more I watch them, the more I think they might be. Their center by committee of Tyson Chandler and Brandon Haywood seem to be getting the job done on the defensive end, while Dirk, Jason and Caron carry the load offensively.
8 (5) Magic 6-3
Just when you think Orlando has it figured out, they go ahead and lose to Toronto, one of the worse teams in the league. In their defense, all-star point guard Jameer Nelson has been injured but that doesn’t explain why Dwight Howard, the nba’s leading rebounder over the last several seasons is only averaging 10.6rpg. I know they are trying to stay under the radar, but for now they are clearly the third best team in the East behind the Celtics and Heat.
9 (6) Hawks 7-4
After storming out of the gate with six straight wins, the Hawks have since lost four out of their last five games. I didn’t think they were a dominant team when they were 6-0, but I certainly didn’t think they would lose four straight. I expect them to bounce back, but like I said before the season, I don’t think they have much upside as a team.
10 (16) Bulls 5-3
The Bulls are sixth in points at 105 per game, fourth in rebounds at 44.5 and fourth in assist at 23.8 and they are doing this without Carlos Boozer, who is out with a hand injury. When he returns, the Bulls could be a very scary team. I think they have a lot of upside as a team.
11 (8) Nuggets 5-4
Just when you think the Nuggets are in total disarray after their 144-113 loss to the Indiana Pacers, they surprise you by giving the Lakers their first defeat in a 118-112 loss. Don’t be surprised by this, because this is what I expect from the Nuggets this entire season, great on some night and terrible on others.
12 (14) Suns 5-4
No one knows exactly what direction the Suns will take this season. Will Steve Nash divorce from his wife cause him to lose interest? Will the Suns organization just settle for making the playoffs only to lose in the first round or, will they trade Nash to a contender? The Suns will make the playoffs if they stay pat, but I don’t see them as a team with any upside.
13 (11) Warriors 6-4
The Warriors are currently sporting a two game losing streak, but before you jump all over them, note that their last five games have been on the road. I expect them to get on track once they return to Oakland.
14 (13) Thunder 5-4
Sixty-six percent of the General Managers in the nba predicted that Kevin Durant would win the MVP Award this season, but so far, Durant is not even the mvp on his own team. That title belongs to Russell Westbrook, who has clearly emerged as one of the top point guards in the league. Westbrook is currently averaging 23.7ppg and 7.8apg.
15 (23) Bucks 5-5
The Bucks are currently the nba’s best defensive team and are allowing their opponent only 89.4 points per game. Their offense is still behind, but their defense helped them win their last three straight games to give them a 5-5 overall record. Their offense must improve if they expect to move up.
16 (9) Trail Blazers 6-5
The Blazers was supposed to be one of the teams that would challenge the Lakers in the West, but if the season ended today, they wouldn’t even be in the playoffs. The Blazer success begins and ends with their all-star shooting guard Brandon Roy, but he has been inconsistent early on in the season. Roy is only averaging 18.1ppg and scored less than ten points in two of his last five games. Roy made only 1 of 7 shots for two points in the Blazers last game, a 107-87 loss to New Orleans. I don’t know if he’s injured or simply playing too many minutes like he alluded to a week ago, but the Blazers cannot succeed without Roy leading the way.
17 (21) Pacers 4-4
If the season ended today, the Pacers would have the seventh seed in the East with their 4-4 record. I don’t expect them to make the playoffs, but in the East anything is possible. I expect them to battle the Cavs, Knicks and Pistons for the last two playoffs spots in the East.
18 (17) Cavaliers 4-5
The Cavaliers have a good chance of making the playoffs in the East, because I think once the Heat picks up the pace, the eighth seed in the East will only need 38 wins to make the playoffs. The Cavs still have the $14 million trade chip they got from trading James to the Heat, so if they look promising come February, I expect them to pull the trigger on a trade that will help them get over the hump.
19 (24) Rockets 3-6
I still believe the Rockets are the most dangerous sub .500 team in the league, because they can score with the best teams. Once their defense picks up, which will depend on if they can get consistent contribution from Yao, I expect them to be a force to reckon with. But that is a big if, because I’m not sure Yao injury prone foot will be able to hold up for the entire season.
20 (22) Pistons 4-6
After starting the season 0-5, the Pistons have gone on to win 4 of their last 5 games. I am almost certain the Pistons will make a blockbuster trade before the deadline in February, which is why I expect them to make the playoffs. I expect either Rip Hamilton or Tayshaun Prince to get traded and it wouldn’t surprise me if both of them are traded.
21 (26) Bobcats 3-7
The Bobcats almost would have won their last three games had it not been for a 96-95 loss to the Jazz, a game in which they led by 15 points. I think the Bobcats are about to make a turn in the right direction and seriously contend for the eighth spot in the East. It wouldn’t surprise me if they traded Stephen Jackson before the deadline, because he and coach Brown don’t seem to be on the same page.
22 (29) Timberwolves 3-8
The Timberwolves Kevin Love was a man possessed when he posted 31 points and 31 rebounds against the Knicks. It was the first time in 28 years that one player had gotten over 30 points and 30 rebounds in a game in the nba. The last person to do that was Moses Malone. His performance helped give the Wolves a brief two game winning streak, which is the only highlight of what has been a dismal season so far.
23 (15) Grizzlies 4-6
The Grizzlies 116-110 overtime loss against the Celtics led to a 1-2 week. However, I expect them to bounce back because they have six players averaging double figures led by Rudy Gay’s 25.2ppg. They must improve on the 107.2 points that they are allowing their opponents to score, if they expect to improve.
24 (25) Nets 3-6
The Nets starting center Brook Lopez is averaging 17.3ppg, on a career low 39.9 field goal percentage. He has to play better for the Nets to have a fighting chance. Despite that, the Nets loss by only one point to the Magic 91-90 last week and are definitely a lot better than they were last season.
25 (18) Knicks 3-7
After starting the season 4-2, the Knicks have lose their last four games and not to point the finger, but I think forward Dalino Gallinari is one of the main reasons why. For a player who was expected to have a breakout season this year, he is only averaging 13.2ppg and his 36.7 field goal percent is clearly due to the fact that he expects to get traded any day for Carmelo Anthony. Also, for a team that speeds up their offense, the Knicks should have way more than 19.5 assist per game as a team, which is 23rd overall in the league.
26 (19) Kings 3-6
It hasn’t even been ten games this season and the Sacramento Kings are already dealing with the enigmatic personality of rookie center DeMarcus Cousins, who has been at odds with the coaching staff. Word of advice for the young fellow, Allen Iverson, one of the nba’s most exciting player is playing for a Turkish team because no nba team wants him. One thing about this league, you can have a job one day and be out the next. I am not saying Cousins is on his way out, but if he doesn’t seriously check his attitude he could be out by the time his rookie contract is up in five years and that will be very sad for a player that has so much potential.
27 (30) Raptors 2-8
I know it’s early in the season, but when you can go in Orlando and beat the Magic 110-106, you deserve to be promoted from the worst ranking in the league.
28 (27) Wizards 2-6
Before Gilbert Arenas rejoined the team, the Wizards were 1-2, since rejoining them the Wizards are 1-4 so I guess it’s fair to say he hasn’t made a difference except hinder the growth of rookie sensation John Wall.
29 (20) 76ers 2-8
The Sixers are definitely a team in transition and Andre Iguodala injury hasn’t helped the situation either. I expect the Sixers to make a change and their best trade chip is Iguodala, but the question is who will they trade him for?
30 (28) Clippers 1-9
Blake Griffin is the only bright spot in Clipperland, because with a 1-9 record, everybody should be on the trading block. The Clippers are looking miserable right now and deserves to have the last ranking entering week 4.
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